A Place for Atemi

I have been told that o'sensei used to say that atemi is ninety percent of aikido. Lately, I have been thinking about this in a new way.

I see two meanings. First is the obvious meaning. We need a convincing atemi to interrupt uke's attack, to take his attention, his balance, so that we can more easily execute technique. But there is a second meaning, I think.

I'm looking at atemi as a blueprint or scaffolding for the techniques themselves. When I commit to using serious atemi (meaning that I put myself in a position to really hit and that I'm not just waving my hand ineffectually) then technique can happen by itself.

Lining up for good atemi by default lines me up for good nage. If I am lined up on your center in a position advantageous for me and disadvantageous for you and my distance is the right distance for atemi, then I am also in the right position for throwing. Conversely, if I am not in a place to hit you, how can I possibly be in the right place to throw you.

So what I am working on now is ALWAYS nailing the atemi. I mean good aiki atemi that gets its power from the hips like cutting suburi. Usually I am cutting yokomen, close and strong or else I'm using some variation of the chin jab, bringing my palm up from under the jaw line like an open handed uppercut, again, powering from the hip. Doing this I get the benefit of taking uke's attention and balance and I also know that my body positon and the placement of my feet are both going to be correct without having to think about it.